2/22/2008

We started the day in Grants, NM with the temperature about 34 degrees and the skies threatening to snow on us. Before we were too far up the road this was fully realized. Much of our travel today was slated to be on Indian reservation land and a good part of it was at high altitude which culminated with us going across a pass which was higher than 7,000 feet above sea level. Not exactly the way you want to travel when you have 7,000 pound of trailer stuck to your bumper but we really felt that we needed to keep going. As we proceeded into the Navajo reservation the weather didn't improve and by the time we reached the Hopi reservation we were experiencing near white out conditions at some points. The really interesting thing about traveling on the Hopi reservation is that they mostly live on Mesa's. If you have never seen a Mesa, they are high flat pieces of land which are almost like islands. They are really beautiful to look at from ground level but the idea of driving up them in blowing snow is not too appealing. To make matters a little worse, the people we were going to see, The Toews family (pronounced Taves), live on the 3rd mesa and yes, in order to get to the 3rd mesa you have to go up the first mesa, down the first mesa, up the second mesa, down the second mesa, up the third mesa.... Again, all in snowy conditions. When we arrived we found the church road to be quite muddy and we ended up getting the van and trailer stuck on the way up the driveway. Russ and his son Nathaniel hooked up their 4 wheel drive Suburban and pulled the Van and Camper far enough up the driveway that we were able to get the camper set up so that we could stay in it. It was quite an eventful day of travel. However, our time there became quite restful right away.

Upon arriving we were warmly greeted by the Toews family. The welcome and the warmth of their home was truly appreciated and we were immediately put at ease. I can't begin to praise God enough for the rest He brings in the home of those that love Him. We spent the rest of the day talking and getting to know one another and later that evening we were introduced to the Hayah family. This family is a real blessing from the Lord Jesus in so many ways. They are from the reservation and became Christians only about 4 years ago but God has been graciously growing them so abundantly! Their testimonies are a real joy to hear and it is even more of a joy to see that they are on a real solid path.

Colossians 1:3-6 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

More on our time here in the next couple of posts.

David